Safety-switch.



PATENTED DEG. 11, 1906.

W. R. COOHRAN, In.

I No. 838,084.

SAFETY SWITCH.

APPLIOATION IILED JUNE 9, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wk l IPCR Tn: NORRIS PITIRS co., WASHINGTON, D c.

MNESSES u 5 PATENTBD DEC. 11, 1906.

w. R. GOGHRAN, J3. SAFETY SWITCH.

APPLIOATIOIN FILED 1mm 9, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'HI I I; W i 1 IIILJ I V x l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. (JOOHRAN, JR, OF DELPHOS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO SHELBY SAFETY SWITCH COMPANY, OF LIMA, OHIO.

SAFETY-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

To all whom (It may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. CoonRAN, Jr., a resident of Delphos, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety- Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in safety-switches, the object of the invention.

being to provide improvements of this character with improved mechanism held by the wheels of a train to maintain the siding open until a train has passed onto the siding and provide improved means for closing the sidmg to open the main track after the train has passed the switch.

A further object is to provide improved switch-throwing mechanism with weight to open the main track and close the siding when the switch-throwing mechanism is released and automatically lock the switch when returned to closed position.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2 is a view in section through the track and showing the switch-stand in side elevation, and Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged views of details of construction.

1 1 represent the rails of the main track, and 2 2 the switchoints.

A rod 4 extends below the rails and is connected with the switchpoints 3, and this rod 4 is connected at one end by a link 5 with a crank-arm 6 at one end of a journal 7, the latter being supported in a bearing-block'or housing 8, located adjacent to the switch at one side of the track.

The crank-arm 6is connected by a rod 9 with a crank-arm 10 on an operating crankshaft 11, the latter supported in bearings at the base of the switch-stand 12. This crankshaft 11 is also provided with a crank-arm 13, connected by a link 14 with a switch-throwing lever 15. The lever 15 is pivoted between its ends to the upright member 16 of the switch-stand and provided with a weight 17 at its inner end to draw the lever 15 down and close the switch, as will more fully hereinafter appear. 1

A semaphore 18 is pivoted at the top of upright 16 and connected by a link 19 with lever 15, so that when the lever is thrown to open the switch the semaphore will also be thrown to display the danger-signal on the main track. v

The journal 7, above referred to, is provided with a notch in its end opposite the crank-arm 6 to receive a crossbar 20, the latter to operate the rail-guards 21, located at the outside of the main rails 1 1 adjacent to the switch.

Clips 22 are secured to the base portions of rails 1 1 and have brackets 22 secured thereon to support a shaft or rod 23, on which latter, at proper intervals, cross-bars 24 are secured and have guard-rails 25 secured thereto at one end and counterbalance-rails 26 secured to their other ends. A link 27 connects the upper end of cross-bar 20 to the counterweighted end of one of the cross-bars 24, and a long bar 28 is secured to the lower end of cross-bar 20, extends beneath the rails 1 1, and its curved-up end is connected by a link 29 with the counterweighted end of one of the cross-bars 24 of the guard at this side of the track.

The operating-lever 15 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by its weight 17, and its handle end moves between curved bars 30 on the switch-stand, and the lever is provided with a lock 31 to engage the bars 30 and automatically lock the lever against movement when returned to its normal posi tion by the weight.

The operation of my improvements is as follows: To open the switch, the switchman unlocks lock 81 and forces the handle end of lever 15 downward, thus elevating the weighted end of the lever, and through the medium of link 14 turns crank-shaft 11, and the arm 10 moves downward and toward the track. This arm 10 pushes rod 9 to swing crank-arm 6 and turn journal 7, and also pushes link 5 and rod 4 to throw the switchpoints 2 to open the switch. The turning of journal 7, through the medium of its crossbar 20 and links 27 29 and bar 28, will cause the guard-rails 25 to be moved down against the side of the threads of main rails 1 and will be held in this position by the wheels of a train until the train passes onto the siding. This holding of the guard-rails by the train will prevent any movement of the switch, and after the switchman sees the train start to enter the siding he may leave, as the parts will be returned to their former normal position by the counterweights when the train has passed and the lever will be securely locked automatically.

By having the guard-rails mounted, as shown, so that they will swing away from the track-rails and when moved into position will present an edge to the side of the rail and sever or dislodge any ice or snow collected thereon a perfectly operating switch is at all times assured.

A great many slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of the parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a main track, a siding, and switch-points, of brackets located beside the rails of the main track, shafts or rods supported by said brackets, cross-bars on the shafts or rods, guard-rails secured to the cross-bars, and means for moving the cross-bars, when the switch-points are thrown, to open the switch, to locate the guard-rails edgewise beside the rails of the track.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a main track, a siding, and switch-points, of brackets located beside the rails of the main track, shafts or rods supported by said brackets, cross-bars on the shafts or rods, guard-rails secured to the cross-bars, a switch-throwing lever, a journal turned by said lever, and mechanism connecting the switch-points and cross-bars of the guard-rails, with the journal to compel the guard-rails to be moved beside the trackrails when the switch-points are thrown to open the switch.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with switch-points, and guard-rails to be held depressed by a train and prevent movement of the switchpoints, of a journal, a rotary support therefor, a crank-arm at one end of said journal connected with the switch-points, a switchthrowing lever to turn the journal, and a cross-bar on the other end of the journal connected with the guard-rail-operating means.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with switch-points and guard-rails to be held depressed by a train, of a switch-stand, a crank-shaft thereon, an upright on the switch-stand, an operating-lever pivoted between its ends to the standard, a weight on one end of said lever, a link connecting the weighted end of the lever with a crank-arm of said shaft, devices interposed between the switch-points, guardrails, and another crank-arm of said shaft to compel their simultaneous operation, a lock to secure the lever in position to maintain the siding closed, a semaphore at the top of the standard or upright, and a link connecting the semaphore and lever.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a main track, a siding, and switch-points, of brackets located beside the rails of the main track, shafts 0r rods supported by said brackets, cross-bars on the shafts or rods, guard-rails secured at one end of the cross-bars, counterbalancerails secured at the other ends of the crossbars, and means for moving the cross-bars when the switch is opened, to locate the guard-rails edgewise beside the rails of the track. v

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM R. OOCHRAN, JR.

Witnesses:

E. G. MACKENZIE, C. N. BREESE. 

